For the first time in many years, Manchester City aren't the favorites to win the Premier League. Will the club thrive in proving the bookies wrong, or is this a sign of a team in decline?
Right now, Liverpool are favourites to win the league. It's worth a bet if you disagree. According to most Premier League betting sites, Man City aren't even second, as Arsenal hold that spot. That comes on the back of statistically Guardiola's worst season in charge.
However, the last time the Spaniard finished third, he went on to win the Premier League in the following season. Will history repeat itself or are Man City destined for another difficult season? Read on and make your judgement.
The State of Man City Right Now
Last season's point haul was 71. That was 13 behind Liverpool and a whole 20 points fewer than the Cityzens claimed the previous season. It was a dramatic drop without any real cause. It appeared that after so much success, the club ran out of steam. For once, Guardiola didn't have any answers.
The Club World Cup seemed like an unwelcome distraction for a club that just needed to rest and recuperate. That's been and gone now. Fans will be looking in eager anticipation to see if the club can start the season well.
As Guardiola likes to do, the squad has been significantly refreshed since the winter transfer window. Along with the new signings, the club will be hoping Marmoush, Gonzalez and Khusanov will become more accustomed to life in England and can enjoy a fruitful first full season. The age of these signings shows a continued commitment to long-term planning.
All this leads to a point where the club is in pretty good shape. De Bruyne may have left after many magical moments but he had already stopped being quite the force he once was. More departures will come but they'll be players Guardiola wants to offload.
It's Still Brave to Bet Against Man City
It's not just the Premier League where Man City have lost their sports betting edge. They are around sixth in the odds for the Champions League. Along with the two English clubs mentioned, the two Spanish giants and last season's winners PSG are deemed more likely to lift the famous trophy.
It's under this type of doubt that Guardiola's team may thrive. It's a different type of motivation when you go from being the hunted to a hunter. The club is likely to be motivated to once again show they are the best team in the world.
The doubts may come from not only Liverpool's performance last season but also their spending power over the summer. The title winner may come down to which club can integrate these signings more quickly in the early part of the season.
Whether it's with modern crypto betting or heading down to your local bookmakers, putting your money against Man City has often been a bad move. Guardiola has never let his team have two bad seasons in a row before.
Building Another Manchester Dynasty
For how to build back after squad transformation, Man City fans can look back to the dark days of Man United's reign at the top. Once Ferguson won his first Premier League title in 1993, the club would never finish lower than third during his reign. As with Guardiola's team, finishing third was seen as a failure.
The first time they finished third after 1993 was in the 2001/02 season. That was after three consecutive titles. They then went on to win the league in the following season. It would be a further confirmation of Guardiola's genius if he were to do something similar.
Instead of fans and pundits talking about the end of a Man City dynasty, a few months into the season, they could well be talking about the start of a new one. With a hungry group of young talent, the foundations are in place.
Heading for a Glorious Farewell
Would Pep Guardiola be good at poker? The Spaniard is notoriously emotive on the sidelines but in interviews, he keeps his cards close to his chest. There was many that thought he'd no longer be manager by this point until he signed his two-year extension in November last year.
When discussing the reason for the extension, he said "maybe the four defeats was why" when referencing the club's slump in form. It perhaps gave an insight into the type of fairytale ending he wants at the club.
It's hard to imagine him ever being content with leaving on a sour note. After a season without a major trophy, it would have been an unjust end to his reign. Instead, he looks motivated to send the club off with another handful of trophies in the next few seasons. His hunger for more will no doubt be infectious. They may not be favourites right now but you still wouldn't bet against Man City.